Weekend in...Warsaw

Sobotnie popołudnie w Parku Szczęśliwickim.

Warsaw's Baker Street

It seems like we have our own Baker Street here in Warsaw but literally, with no references whatsoever to Sherlock Holmes or any that kind of persona as far as I know (by the way: had he ever visited Warsaw?). Still Senatorska Street, to which I'm referring to, is definitely not one of these streets that suffer from lack of the references, having quite a history and a bunch of significant buildings with their own history each. The Great Theatre is probably on the top of the list (being in fact the greatest one of them) but you may find all the other here with links to their photos and be very likely surprised how little you knew about them before (for me it was exceptionally striking because I'm passing different parts of this street practically every day on the way to my office). 

But it's not what I was going to write about. The thing that I dare to call Senatorska Street our Baker Street is that with newly open bakery shop after quick calculations there are four that kind of shops in the western part of the street. And when I give myself a moment to think I come with the conclusion that actually each one of them has something really special to offer amid wide rang of its high quality baker's good and pastry what sounds very promising for their coexistence in the future.

I will provide you with the details (maybe even with the pics of the specials I mentioned) very soon.

bold bolder boldest?

Cameron Silver, o którym więcej tutaj, pojawił się ostatnio na LAXART Ball OF Artists Event w Beverly Hills, California ubrany w dwuczęściowy kostium z wiosennej (damskiej!) kolekcji Mary Katrantzou, o której więcej tutaj. 

Cameron Silver and Mary Katrantzou

Spring 2012 by Mary Katrantzou

Uczciwie należałoby powiedzieć, że wspomniany kostium po koniecznych przeróbkach i odpowiednim dopasowaniu do sylwetki stał się dość pospolicie wyglądającym (oczywiście mówimy tylko o fasonie) męskim garniturem, tym samym lądując w zupełnie innej "szufladzie" niż prezentowany na pokazie kostium. O ostatecznym efekcie decyduje tu jednak nie fason rzecz jasna, tylko deseń jakim pokryty został materiał. Czy to jednak wystarcza, żeby uznać ten pomysł za odważny? Czy to może wciąż klasyczna elegancja tylko w wersji "wykopana w kosmos"? 

Oceniając obiektywnie, odwagi jest tu mało. Całość utrzymana jest w bardzo konwencjonalnej estetyce - kolorki się ładnie komponują, motyw ukwieconej łąki nadaje całości trójwymiarowej głębi, o samym fasonie już mówiłem.  Stylizacja wznosi się na nieco inny poziom dzięki muszce projektu Alexisa Mabille, która powinna gryźć się z resztą a jakoś się nie gryzie i to jest bardzo zaskakujące. Widok bezsprzecznie cieszący oczy, ale czy poza wizualnym (silnym) doznaniem jest tu co kontemplować? 

Możemy jednak zapomnieć o obiektywizmie w ocenie, gdyż mamy tu do czynienia z facetem, który nie dość, że przebiera się w damskie ciuszki (bo nie wchodząc w szczegóły tak właśnie jest) to jeszcze ma "odwagę" przekroczyć kanoniczną liczbę trzech kolorów w jednym stroju. I co by nie mówić to (nadal/jeszcze) jest jednak jakiś rodzaj odwagi. Ekh...

my latest affection

"tippy-toes, tippy-toes, pointy, pointy, floppy hands, step and smile"

"tego nie robi się kotu"

Nieprzyjazd mój do miasta N.
Odbył się punktualnie.

Zostałeś uprzedzony
niewysłanym listem.

Zdążyłeś nie przyjść
w przewidzianej porze.

Pociąg wjechał na peron trzeci.
Wysiadło dużo ludzi.

Uchodził w tłumie do wyjścia
Brak mojej osoby.

Kilka kobiet zastąpiło mnie
pośpiesznie
w tym pośpiechu.

Do jednej podbiegł
ktoś nie znany mi,
ale ona rozpoznała go
natychmiast.

Oboje wymienili
nie nasz pocałunek,
podczas czego zginęła
nie moja walizka.

Dworzec w mieście N.
dobrze zdał egzamin
z istnienia obiektywnego.

Całość stała na swoim miejscu.
Szczegóły poruszały się
po wyznaczonych torach.

Odbyło się nawet
umówione spotkanie.

Poza zasięgiem
naszej obecności.
 

W raju utraconym
prawdopodobieństwa.
 

Gdzie indziej.
Gdzie indziej.
Jak te słówka dźwięczą.

 
Wisława Szymborska (1923-2012)
 
 


 

what's up newbies? (part two)

Being maximalist is definitely a tough profession. It may become even tougher if you suddenly discover an inner desire for simplification. Louise Gray seems to be one of very few who can deal with that sort of situation beautifully. Her collection for Spring 2012 has all maximalism she is recognisable for (colours, patterns, layers are as always main ingredients of her crazy mix) despite the fact that if you look more carefully you may find some signs of pure simplicity within these pieces. Try to get rid of all the styling and finishings necessary for the runway and you will stay with couple of nice, simple, extremely wearable frocks and probably the coolest two-piece of the season (last pic). Is it possible to be cleverer in terms of establishing one's own label? I don't think so.

"Black swan" remake

This week has been fully packed with figure skating as two major competitions: European Championships and US Nationals have just ended today. There were as always ups and downs, kisses and cries, jumps and falls etc. and I must admit that personally I'm not so into it any more (at least comparing to my state of mind just a few years ago). Still there were moments to enjoy and definitely one of them was this adorable performance of newly crowned US Ladies' Champion - Ashley Wagner.



I always say that great pick of music is at least half of the final success in this sport - judges are people after all - and here music's choice was really great giving all every decent skating performance needs: growing tension, drama and grande finale. It's not enough of course, but if you add some nicely detailed elements to mark that you are actually skating in accordance with this great music you picked, you'll hit the nail right on the head. And she just did it by attaching for example this super original arms' movement during her spiral sequence or performing 'en pointe'-like little steps in the middle of the program.

For me this program seems to be also a bit "from the past" (and for the record I'm mentioning about it as its big advantage) being composed in a way to give the skater some moments to have a deep breath. Under the new judging system it means simply that there are less points to gain so it's quite unusual these days but thanks to that loss you gain something else. I would describe it as a certain glowing lightness (I know how it sounds but this is figure skating vocabulary so just bear it;-) which prevents you from being tired with the performance and helps you truly enjoy it. I'm sure that some judges might still have huge craving for that as well.

EDIT 14/02/2012: Ashley Wagner's lucky star keeps shining as she just won The Four Continents Figure Skating Championships gaining the international recognition with the best score of the season for the female skater and unexpectedly but evidently becoming one of the favourites to grab the world title.
 

tribute to Etta

what's up newbies? (part one)

Remember my article about two lovely newbies stepping boldly onto the stage? Interested in getting back in touch with them and checking out how their performances keep going? I am.

Holly Fulton still stands for extremely original Art Deco-esque patterning but this time (Spring 2012) combined nicely with zebra, checkerboard and oh-so-trendy this season ocean motifs. All this variety of forms was shown off on simple shapes with top-notch miniskirts waving the flag for the brand as one of its trademarks. Fulton also keeps herself on a very high level with the exquisite jewellery she produces and tries to experiment with fabrics - as you might have not noticed the zebra pattern on strapless top (second pic) is actually intarsia knit - the result of special collaboration with a Scottish textile mill.
My affection for the colours she tends to use is widely known.

For some people it might be too much. But even if, this is probably the best possible kind of "too much" you have chance to wear nowadays.

to be continued...

we need to talk

Tilda Swinton has got all the stuff she needed to deliver this outstanding performance - there is no doubt about it. The problem is that I'm still not so sure whether in case of the movie "We need to talk about Kevin" that kind of performance was ever needed. Wouldn't it have been more appropriate for the story to have kind of plainer actress to pull it off? I believe so. And with all due respect, Swinton is probably capable of anything except being plain.  And she would definitely frivolously admit it, if someone asked, I bet.

What we get here is the amazingly well built up character of a sophisticated woman who thanks to the massive, overwhelming work of Tilda Swinton's body (with the whole face - eyes, lips and even cheeks being involved) is intricate, attention grabbing and anything but plain. And as much as I'm happy to have another opportunity to appreciate Swinton's excellence and brilliance, I would prefer to appreciate them in other movie. This story, not giving any answers, maybe not asking any questions either, but definitely touching certain taboo, requires on the side of the actors as much plainness (even transparency) as possible. In that sense John Reilly did his job much better than Swinton. Nevertheless her hard work might be rewarded anyway since The Academy likes rewarding hard work (no matter you are a ballet dancer or a killer's mother). So far Swinton has lost the Golden Globe Award to Meryl Streep but being conquered by The Iron Lady shouldn't be a shame really;-)

Except Swinton's approach to the movie who does try hard to prove again how great actress she is (which she is indeed so she might stop proving it so vividly) I consider the movie as a very successful and accomplished project which leaves us with quite a few unpleasant, uncomfortable thoughts, what was (or at least should be) its main goal.
Highly recommended.